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---
title: Whitney Biennial: Power of Political Art VIDEO
description: In this video, Whitney Museum&#x27;s Lew says artists he spoke with expressed fear and anxiety about American politics, but also a sense of hope
canonical: https://time.com/4705969/whitney-biennial-political-art/
author: Joyce Lee
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2017-03-17T22:37:16.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-03-30T12:21:51.453Z
article:section: Entertainment
og:title: Behind the Powerful Political Art at the Whitney Biennial
og:description: “We&#x27;re in a moment where funding for the arts is in danger&quot;
og:url: https://time.com/4705969/whitney-biennial-political-art/
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og:image:width: 1200
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og:image:alt: Whitney Biennial 1920
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Behind the Powerful Political Art at the Whitney Biennial
twitter:description: “We&#x27;re in a moment where funding for the arts is in danger&quot;
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte530f69b86911c5b/6988bee77cdbac6cdbd57865/whitney-biennial-1920.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=3840&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte530f69b86911c5b/6988bee77cdbac6cdbd57865/whitney-biennial-1920.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Behind the Powerful Political Art at the Whitney Biennial

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#### Who is Ally Bank?

Ally Bank is an online-only bank launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in the financial services industry, built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. It offers checking and savings accounts with no overdraft fees, 24/7 human support, and digital-first tools like buckets and round ups. Deposits are FDIC-insured up to the maximum amount allowed by law.

#### Is Ally good for everyday banking?

Ally is built for everyday banking, spending, and saving. Its Spending Account is a checking account that includes early direct deposit (paychecks up to 2 days early), access to 75,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide, the ability to add cash for free at participating locations nationwide, and no overdraft fees. Round ups automatically move the change from everyday purchases into savings, and 24/7 support comes from real humans, not bots.

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### Sources

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### Disclaimers

* Ally Bank, Member FDIC.
* Round up boosters are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account and requires an Ally Bank Spending Account.
* Ally Bank Spending Accounts include access to an add cash feature utilizing VanillaDirect Pay provided by InComm Financial Services California, Inc. and by InComm Financial Services, Inc. (NMLS# 912772), which is licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Terms and conditions apply.
* Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account.
* No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle.
* Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner.
* Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account.

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by [Joyce Lee](https://time.com/author/joyce-lee/) and [Arpita Aneja](https://time.com/author/arpita-aneja/)

Mar 17, 2017 10:37 PM UTC

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte530f69b86911c5b/6988bee77cdbac6cdbd57865/whitney-biennial-1920.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

by [Joyce Lee](https://time.com/author/joyce-lee/) and [Arpita Aneja](https://time.com/author/arpita-aneja/)

Mar 17, 2017 10:37 PM UTC

“We’re in a moment where funding for the arts is in danger, and it shows how urgent it is and how important art is to speak about society,” says Christopher Y. Lew, a co-curator for the [2017 Whitney Biennial](http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/2017Biennial), which runs through June 11 at the [Whitney Museum of American Art](http://whitney.org/) in New York City. The project is an exhibit displayed every two years that surveys the current state of American art.

Lew and his co-curator Mia Locks researched this year’s collection during the presidential election. As a result, the turbulence of the current political era is clearly reflected in the art represented in the exhibit.

In this video, Lew talks about how the artists he worked with expressed fear and anxiety about American politics. But they also displayed a sense of hope and an urgent need to take action in the future.

The first draft of history is often written by artists. This interview with Lew is part of TIME’s new series, State of the Art, which explores how artists of all kinds are addressing America’s political upheaval.

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